Choose your own adventure. Photographer, writer, multimedia producer? Maybe documentary filmmaker, social media strategist, or ad executive. There are more personas to try—you may even create your own.

At the School of Journalism and Communication, students learn the power of storytelling from best-selling authors, industry influencers, research scholars, and Pulitzer Prize winners. They also learn by doing—and making and creating—through experiential learning opportunities.

It all starts with Gateway to Media—a three-course sequence that covers the basics for students engaging in collaborative media projects. Then you may choose journalism, public relations, advertising, or media studies as your focus of study. From there your path branches out into some surprising directions. Your directions.

Don’t worry, you’re not stuck with one hat. Chances are, you’ll be asked to wear several at a time. But all that role-play is also a lot of work. You’ll be collaborating in teams, completing other duties as required, and dealing with the messy reality of reality—the kind of professional experience that your future boss will be asking you about.

Learn about magazines by making one—such as Flux, a publication that’s won nearly 300 awards so far. Master public relations by joining a student-run agency with real clients. Explore advertising by developing ad campaigns—or video production by (you guessed it) creating video content.

The list goes on, and it will definitely change next year. Maybe next week. Because we’re keeping pace with some rapidly changing industries. In fact, we’re helping change them ourselves.

Immersive learning adventures also take our students to places such as San Francisco and New York, where they network with industry leaders and learn firsthand what it’s like to work in agencies. Some go even farther afield—for instance, Ghana, where students gain practical, professional experience along with all the personal growth that comes from living and working in a different country.

So here’s your client, your deadline, and a staff of dedicated students (just like you) who also get a charge out of staying up late and pushing their best work to a better level. We’ll give you all the tools and advice you need. The rest is up to you.

But be careful. Experiential learning can lead to failure, success, limits pushed, and lifelong lessons. You’ll also graduate with a stellar portfolio, and gain a network of professionals who are familiar with your experience—and your potential.

UO
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age,
religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity,
and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by
Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by
UO policy. Questions may be referred to the
Title IX Coordinator, Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office
for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed
on the
statement of non-discrimination.